ONTARIO, CA — When we last checked in with Los Angeles Kings left wing prospect Maxim Kitsyn in December 2014, his head coach said that “he wills his way, every shift.”

A couple of months later, that hasn’t changed.

“You know [that] when he puts on the uniform, he’s going to give you 110 percent,” said Jason Christie, head coach of the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ current ECHL affiliate. “You see him out there—he works, he competes. That’s why he got a call up—because he battles. He’s determined. I think that’s the biggest thing—how determined he is, as a player.”

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The phrase, “Go West, young man!” has been around for many decades, and although it will take them 80 years, the American Hockey League is doing just that.

Indeed, it’s been in the works for years, and there has been an ever-increasing amount of talk about it over the past few years, but it all became reality on January 29, when the AHL announced that the affiliates of five National Hockey League teams will move to California to form a new Pacific Division of the AHL. The teams in this new division will begin play next season, marking the first time the AHL will have teams in California in what will be their 80-year history.

Soon-to-be Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jamie McBain, shown here playing for the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League on October 31, 2014.(click above to view larger image)Photo: Blake Gumprecht

The 26-year-old, 6-1, 181-pound native of Edina, Minnesota has played in 275 career regular season National Hockey League games with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres (2013-14 season), scoring 25 goals and adding 67 assists for 92 points, with a -22 plus/minus rating and 62 penalty minutes.

McBain became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2014, after the Sabres declined to make him a qualifying offer. He was invited to the Arizona Coyotes training camp, but didn’t catch on.

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: In Part 1 of this two-part series, we told you about Los Angeles Kings rookie left wing Tanner Pearson’s rise from being a very late bloomer who came within a hair of being a late seventh round pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Draft, instead of a first round pick in the 2012 draft. What might’ve happened if he had been picked in the seventh round instead of the first round?

In Part 2, we’ll look at Pearson’s (so far) successful ascent to the NHL, with comments from Pearson and Kings Senior Vice President, Hockey Operations and Director of Player Personnel Michael Futa, who shared his thoughts about both Pearson and right wing Tyler Toffoli.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — For the last seven seasons, center Anze Kopitar has led the Los Angeles Kings in scoring, and he has led them, essentially, from start to finish each season.

Don’t look now, but that is not how things will go this season, as rookie left wing Tanner Pearson, for now, anyway, leads the Kings in scoring with four goals and two assists for six points through four games.

Although no one should expect Pearson to end the season leading the Kings in scoring, anything is possible, right? In any case, Pearson’s early-season hot streak already has him in the conversation for the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top rookie (he did not play enough games last season to lose rookie status).

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: Did you know that, if not for one, critical decision back in 2011, Los Angeles Kings rookie sensation Tanner Pearson could easily still be toiling away in the minor leagues, getting limited ice time (and limited development) on the third or fourth line with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, and that he, and the Kings, might not have won the 2014 Stanley Cup Championship because of that? Indeed, that was very nearly the case. Part 1 of a two-part series.

LA Kings left wing Tanner Pearson, shown here celebrating the team’s 2014 Stanley Cup Championship with his family on the ice at Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 13, 2014.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — During the Los Angeles Kings’ remarkable 26-game run through the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, culminating in their second Stanley Cup Championship in the last three seasons, rookie left wing Tanner Pearson seemed to come out of nowhere, scoring four goals and contributing eight assists for twelve points, while playing on a line with right wing Tyler Toffoli and center Jeff Carter to make up what became known as the “That 70’s Line.”

That line gave the Kings a whole new look up front, and, in particular, gave the Chicago Blackhawks fits during the 2014 Western Conference Final—they had no answer for them.

For his part, Pearson used speed that had not been seen from him prior to the post-season to get to loose pucks and set up his line mates time and time again. In the end, the result was becoming a Stanley Cup Champion at the age of 21, and in just his first season in the National Hockey League.

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